Which paint is the best solution for frequently repainted apartments? Which paint is ideal if you want a specific shade? What are the advantages of emulsion over lower-grade emulsion paints? When does it make sense to use acrylic paints, considering their significantly higher cost? What exactly are so-called washable paints?
When it comes to painting, there are many unknowns, especially if you embark on this adventure on your own. One of the most common dilemmas is which type of paint to use. There are three basic types of wall paints – lower-grade emulsion, emulsion, and acrylic paints.
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They differ in quality, resistance to external influences, and price. The price varies significantly between these three types of paints, and when someone wants to repaint their apartment themselves, it is assumed that the price is an important factor.
Emulsion Paints
Emulsion paints are noticeably higher quality than lower-grade emulsion paints, but they also come at a higher price. They are more resistant to water, so the wall can be wiped with a damp cloth (so-called washable paint), and they can be tinted to achieve a wide range of shades, from pastels to full intense tones. The final texture depends on the paint’s coverage ability.
Thicker paint and the use of poor-quality rollers can result in an orange peel texture, but with better tools and thinner paint, a very fine finish can be achieved. The most affordable is the white lower-grade emulsion, while the addition of pigments increases the price.
Acrylic Paints
Acrylic paints are high-quality coatings characterized by exceptional durability, making them highly resistant to wiping with a damp cloth. Acrylic paints are elastic, but despite this, they are vapor-permeable, allowing the walls to “breathe,” as it is popularly said. As with emulsion paints, tinting in all colors is possible, up to very rich tones.
They have great coverage power, so they are applied in thin layers. However, it should be noted that acrylic paints are expensive and are generally used for the finest work. This means that the question is whether you can, if you lack experience, get the most out of these paints.
And they are expensive. If it’s an apartment being painted for the seventh time, using acrylic paints doesn’t make much sense. Even if you want to return to white after a darker color, this can be done with lower-grade emulsion or emulsion paint.
Acrylic paints will only fully display their quality if applied for the first time after very well-done wall preparation, such as fine plastering and sanding, or leveling the walls. If the paint is applied to such a well-prepared surface with a quality roller, the walls will have a very fine texture, and if the paint is applied with a spray gun, the walls will be completely smooth.
Conclusion
From everything mentioned, it’s easy to conclude what you need. Lower-grade emulsion paint is in most cases an adequate solution. It is used for apartments that are regularly repainted, with only minor repairs on the walls. If you want better quality, a specific color, and a surface that can be wiped, the ideal choice is full emulsion paint.
Acrylic paints are used for the highest quality painting work and only have a full effect if the surface on which the paint is applied is properly prepared, which includes plastering and fine sanding.